We are happy to donate a Glutenology Cookbook to Jacquie! She is a TRUE Gluten Free Warrior!
My Gluten Free Story:
My name is Jacquie Brandt. I started a Gluten Free Diet in April of 2010. I was in the emergency room 6 times from January to April. I had test after test after test. Nothing was ever found to be wrong with me. I was given acid blocker’s over and over again. I kept getting worse. I had allergy tests and they noted that I had allergy induced asthma. Which I have known for years. I have been on an inhaler for 12 or so years.
No food allergies were ever discovered. My history of stomach issues goes back, as far as I can recall, to theage of 17. I have been diagnosed with H-Pylori, Acid Reflux/GERD, Asthma, Depression, Meniere’s Disease and I have hypothyroidism due to removal of half my
thyroid, 8 and a half years ago.
As the year 2010 approached, I was getting more and more sick. Everything I would eat would make me sick to my stomach and I did notwant to get up in the morning. I was tired all the time, sick to my stomach all the time and constant burning in my stomach and chest. Then in January, I started getting horrible pains in my stomach after eating. The pain was intense and I was missing a lot of work and spending agreat deal in doctor’s offices and ER rooms.
I was given a shot of Diladid on one occasion and thought I was going to die. The medication given to me stopped my breathing. I could hear the nurse and my husband telling me to breathe, but I just lay there not able to move or respond. Finally, I was able to take a deep breath. I told the hospital to NEVER give me that stuff again. They said it was for the pain and that heroin user’s love the stuff. I could not believe my ears and I told them once I was able to, “I am not a heroin addict”. It took me two days to recover from that ordeal.
The following week, I got really sick and literally thought that I wasgoing to die. I left work and everyone that saw me knew something was wrong. They wanted to drive me to the ER and I told them I would befine to do so myself. Honestly, I didn’t want to go to the ER yet again and have them tell me nothing is wrong. They’ve already insinuated thatit was all in my head. So, when I left work I went to the VitaminCottage to see about taking natural stuff, since all the med’s I was on,were not helping and I was getting worse.
I talked with Kelly who was in the aisle stacking. She was the greatest person I was about to meet. She is a nutritionist and does free sessions at Vitamin Cottage. Shethought I looked sick and I told her my symptoms and she said to me “itsounds like you may have an allergy to gluten”. GLUTEN??? That was going to be a word I would start using everyday of my life. Kelly suggested that I still go to the ER to make sure I wasn’t having aheart attack. So, I did! Again more acid blocker’s. Every time I leftthe ER, I would take home 3 more prescriptions. None of which were helping. I also made an appointment with Kelly. It was the best thing I everdid. She gave me lots of information and told me to try not eating gluten and see what happens.
I kept a diary as well. It turns out that all the foods I had previously given up (tomato’s, potato’s, beans andmore) were not what was making me sick. I ate oatmeal every morning, if not oatmeal than Kashi or boiled egg and toast. More Oats than anything else, though. Trying to eat healthy right? Wrong! Once I stopped eating the oats I started feeling better. Than the grains, wheats etc. Not only do I feel great now,
I have lost 15 pounds and still going. I have energy again. I am a clean freak and my house had suffered because of my lack of energy and happiness. I was depressed.
I am now free of inhaler’s, have cut back a deal on the Depression medications and will soon be done with them. I don’t take med’s for Meniere’s anymore or for acid reflux. I am still taking one fourth of my Celexa (was on 40 mgand now 10 mg) and my thyroid medication. Once or twice I slipped and it made me go right back to my healthy eating, because I was reminded of why I don’t eat that stuff anymore.
I try to spread the word daily. People think I am crazy but also note that I look so much healthier andthat I am back to my (Abby)normal self. Gluten Free has worked for me and I pass along my e-mails from the
Gluten Free Society and I have 3 people now on the same life stylechange. I am working on two more as they have the same symptoms. I tell them just try it for one day to see if it makes a difference. So,after one FREE session with a Nutritionist (and $5,000 dollars in ERbills), I am feeling great!
Thank you for sharing information from the
Gluten Free Society Newsletter. This is my story and I tried not to make it too long but, needed to share some details of my unhealthy way of living before going GlutenFree.
Warmly,
Jacquie Brandt
If you have gone gluten free without the healthy results you expected, join Gluten Free Society and learn why here…
